Newsletter October 2025
Firstly my apologies that this newsletter is late. Time ran away from me!
October meetings
We were treated to a fascinating talk by Pippa Foulds ‘Don’t Forget the Plain Ones’ on the meeting day. This was about Pippa’s research into large tie-on pockets worn by women in the 18th & 19th centuries. At a time when women had few if any rights over themselves or their property, these pockets gave them a place where they could ‘own’ and store their most personal possessions. Pippa explained that the majority of pockets, throughout this period, whether for aristocrats or fishwives, were made from plain or re-purposed linens or cottons, often with no embellishment other than maybe a laundry mark. In museum archives there are collections of embroidered pockets but few plain ones. Pippa explained that overlooking the ‘plain’ ones meant missing a rich source of contextual information about women’s lives in the past. Using museum examples and evidence from the criminal courts about the contents of the pockets she endeavoured to tell the stories of some of these women.
November meetings
Stitch day is November 6th and at the meeting day on November 20th we welcome Helen Poremba who is a textile artist, working from her home studio in the Northumbrian village of Felton. Her artwork is based mostly on botanical subjects and her designs are informed by the shapes, patterns and colours of flowers and foliage. She will be both demonstrating and talking so the format of the meeting will be slightly different. More details on the day.
Unfortunately Helen cancelled owing to adverse weather conditions
Travelling Books
We saw the first exchange of books at the October meeting and, as always, it was fascinating to see the range and variety.
Exhibition at Tennants Wednesday 19th November – Thursday 18th December
Reminder that these are the dates for our forthcoming exhibition at Tennants Garden Rooms of all the incredible f lower embroideries you have produced for RHS Harlow Carr. If you can spread the word, bring your friends and family and join in on one of the Open Stitch Days we hope you will. We will also provide flyers with details of our group. Reminder that the opening event is on the 19th November at 3pm where after light refreshments Sam Findlay the librarian at Harlow Carr will be giving a short presentation. Numbers that we can accommodate are limited so if you have not already signed up and wish to attend please do speak to me at the Stitch Day, November 6th . As you will be aware we would like to include in the exhibition a display of some of our travelling books. Obviously these cannot be the ones journeying this time! These books will be behind glass for the entire exhibition for visitors to look at. If we get a good response we may well rotate them and the pages they are open at. If you have not already passed to Jackie any travelling books you wish to be in the exhibition please do so at the Stitch Day. As mentioned before the books will be on display at your own risk. There is a rota as we would like to ensure that there are at least four members stitching and chatting on the two open stitch days at all times. Please encourage participation. On both days there will be stitching that visitors can participate in and kits to take away if they wish to make their own decoration. Some of the sample pears and birds for the Open Stitch days have already been taken by members willing to start stitching but there are more available for preparatory work. We hope you will help.
Happy Stitching,
Carolyn.
Chair1rlcs@gmail.com 07454 536 072 https://richmondandleyburncreativestitchers.wordpress.com
September 2025
The chill of Autumn seems to be approaching fast but at last we have had some much needed rain and plenty to occupy us all.
September meetings
Helen Barnes with her talk ‘Vietnamese Textiles’ at the September meeting was interesting and inspiring. I know I learnt a lot and Helen had obviously researched thoroughly.
Thursday 25th September Visit to Durham Cathedral It was a joy and a privilege to visit the Cathedral and our heartfelt thanks must go to the three members who are Broderers, Ann, Ione and Melita. I certainly learnt a lot and I know from feedback that many of you did too. It was inspiring to see so many pieces of detailed embroidery in such close detail. They were truly beautiful.
October meetings
Stitch day is October 2nd and at the meeting day on October 16th we welcome Pippa Foulds with her talk entitled
‘Don’t forget the Plain Ones’.
Workshop Saturday October 11th
We are sorry that this workshop has been cancelled but hopefully we have learnt from the experience and we look
forward to better things as we move on.
Travelling Books
There are five groups going forward (including a ‘Chinese Whispers’ group) with the first exchange taking place at the October Meeting Day: October 16th. Our thanks to Elaine D and Jackie B for organising this and to Alison F. for her detailed explanations for the ‘Chinese Whispers’ group.
Exhibition at Tennants Wednesday 19th November – Thursday 18th December
Reminder that these are the dates for our forthcoming exhibition at Tennants Garden Rooms of all the incredible flower embroideries you have produced for RHS Harlow Carr.
We will be holding an opening event on the 19th November and we will be asking you to sign up if you wish to attend. The event is scheduled from 3pm and after light refreshments Sam Findlay the librarian at Harlow Carr will be giving a short presentation. Numbers that we can accommodate are limited so please do sign up on October 16th. We would like to include in the exhibition a display of some of our travelling books. Obviously these cannot be the ones journeying this time! These books will be behind glass for the entire exhibition for visitors to look at. If we get a good response we may well rotate them and the pages they are open at.
On the two stitch days in the upper gallery on Monday 24th November and Tuesday 9th December (10am-3pm) we would like some travelling books on a table and these may be handled. This will allow visitors to ‘follow a journey’. Would you please let Jackie know if you are willing to lend your travelling book and then we will collect them at the meeting on 16th October. The books will be on display at your own risk. We would like to set up a rota to ensure that there are at least four members stitching and chatting on the two stitch days at all times. We will provide flyers with details of our group. Please encourage participation. On both days there will be stitching that visitors can participate in and kits to take away if they wish to make their own decoration.
Some of the sample pears and birds for the Open Stitch days will be ready for preparatory work on October 16th. We hope you will help.
Happy Stitching,
Carolyn.
Chair1rlcs@gmail.com 07454 536 072
https://richmondandleyburncreativestitchers.wordpress.com
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August 2025
Another busy but hopefully enjoyable month with lots of time for stitching. No doubt many of you were on holiday or visiting or entertaining friends and family so we were pleased to see so many of you at the meetings.
At our meeting day we displayed the items you had stitched for the member’s challenge. The variety and imagination was impressive from embroidered handkerchiefs to needlecases and stitched models of Jane Austen herself. I hope you all enjoyed seeing the exhibits as much as I did. Our thanks must go to Carol Waterhouse for all her organisation, information and encouragement.
We also heard how the ‘Chinese Whispers’ group had produced their pieces and I am glad to say that by the end of the afternoon another such group had been formed for the forthcoming journey.
We also took the opportunity to examine the pieces stitched for the recent Travelling Books journey (aside from the Chinese Whispers group). So much inspirational stitching which was a delight to take the time to examine.
Many members brought in pieces from workshops both internally and externally tutored over the past 12 months. So much variety and hopefully you all enjoyed the time to admire and be inspired. Thank you all for your contributions.
Now is the time to stitch your piece for the new Travelling Books journey. It should be in your book and ready to swap at the October Meeting Day: October 16th.
September meetings
Stitch day is on September 4th and the meeting day is on September18th when the speaker will be Helen Barnes with her talk ‘Vietnamese Textiles’
Thursday 25th September Visit to Durham Cathedral There is one space on this visit as someone is no longer able to join the group. Please do get in touch if you would like to join us.
Workshop Saturday October 11th
Further details will be available at Stitch Day on September 4th.
Exhibition at Tennants Wednesday 19th November – Thursday 18th December
Reminder that these are the dates for our forthcoming exhibition at Tennants Garden Rooms of all the incredible flower embroideries you have produced for RHS Harlow Carr. We will be holding an opening event on the 19th November and two stitch days in the upper gallery on Monday 24th November and Tuesday 9th December. Please do save the dates.
And finally: My good wishes to all of you and please do offer your suggestions as to how the group may continue to flourish.
Happy Stitching,
Carolyn.
Chair1rlcs@gmail.com 07454 536 072 https://richmondandleyburncreativestitchers.wordpress.com
Richmond and Leyburn Creative Stitchers 